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Chimney Company South Farmingdale NY

4 Signs It’s Time to Call a Professional Chimney Sweep

Chimney King has been ensuring the chimneys of Long Island homeowners are operating efficiently and safely since more than 35 years. From inspections and repairs, and from sweeping to damper repairs and installations, their team of professionals will make sure that your chimney is in tip-top condition. All work is completed by local firefighters, so you’ll have confidence knowing that the safety of your fireplace, home, and family is in the very best hands.

Whether you use your fireplace on a regular basis, or you only use it to burn a Yule log during the holiday season, it’s extremely important to have your chimney swept.

Each time you light a fire, the byproducts of combustion – creosote and soot – accumulate along the inside of your flue. These waste products are highly combustible, and the more buildup there is, the greater the chances that a chimney fire will occur. Additionally, animals often seek shelter in chimneys and build nests inside the structure. Outdoor debris can collect inside, too. If these elements are trapped inside a chimney, they can cause a fire.

Chimney fires account for a large percentage of house fires in the United States each year, and failure to clean the chimney is the primary cause of these fires.Don’t put your home and your family at risk! If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of the following five questions, it’s time schedule an appointment for a cleaning with a professional, reliable chimney sweep.

Are Experiencing Issues with Your Fires?

If your fires are slow to start, they aren’t burning as brightly as they normally do, or smoke is billowing into your home, chances are that you need to have your chimney cleaned.

As creosote and soot buildup in a chimney, oxygen can’t reach the fire, which can make a fire slow to start or burn dimly. Furthermore, the accumulation of these byproducts can prevent smoke from exiting the chimney, and as a result, smoke can start pouring into your home instead of out. Issues with a fire can also be a sign that exterior debris – such as leaves, twigs, and acorns – has accumulated in your chimney. It can also be an indication of animal nests in the structure.

Do You Smell Odd Odors?

The smoke from a fire creates a very noticeable smell; however, that odor shouldn’t be overpowering. If the smell of smoke is very strong and is filling your entire house, it likely isn’t ventilating properly. Frequently, improper ventilation is the result of a buildup of the waste products of combustion. Debris and nests can also prevent the smoke from exiting the chimney. Additionally, as creosote, leaves, twigs, acorns, nets, or any other debris burns, it creates a strong and odd odor that will permeate throughout your home.

Do You Hear Strange Sounds?

If you hear scratching sounds coming from inside the walls near your chimney, or coming out of the fireplace, contact a professional chimney sweep right away. These sounds may be coming from animals, such as squirrels or racoons, building nests inside your chimney. If that’s the case, the nest can ignite when you light a fire; not to mention the fact that those critters could eventually make their way into your home.

Have You Failed to Have Your Chimney Cleaned?

If it’s been more than a year since you had your chimney cleaned, or you have never had it cleaned, then contact a professional chimney sweep is an absolute must! The National Fire Prevention Association recommends annual chimney cleanings, even if you don’t use it regularly. If you do use your fireplace often, you might want to consider having it cleaned twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall.

Schedule An Appointment with a Professional Chimney Sweep

If your answer to any of the above questions is “yes”, then it’s time to call a professional chimney sweep. The team of professionals at Chimney King will fully inspect your chimney and use the most advanced tools and techniques to thoroughly clean the structure and ensure sound operation. To schedule an appointment in Nassau County, call 516.766.1666. If you live in Suffolk County, call 631.225.2600. Or, you can schedule an appointment right online at ChimneyKingInc.com.